Apparatus for the manufacture of pottery



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 W. J. MILLER APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF POTTERY Filed July 14, 1933 rb'lfi Aug; 31, 1937.

3m entor JIM/? attorneg H- W/Ab s- 1937. w. J. MILLER 2,091,766

ARPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF POTTERY Filed July 14, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3rmentor (Ittorneg Patented Aug. 31, 1937 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR 'rnn MANUFACTURE or POTTERY William J. Miller, Swlssvale, Pa.

Application July 14, 1933, Serial No. 680,483

39 Claims. (CI. 25-22) This invention relates to apparatus for the of an absorbent or permeable mold; applying manufacture of high quality table pottery ware, and securing the blank in predetermined angular such as plates, cups and saucers and more parposition and uniform concentric bulk distributicularly to improved methods and means for tion to the mold while held by said form; prosegregating charges of clay from a mass, pre gressively spreading the blank over the mold 5 shaping blanks therefrom and applying, securing from center to periphery by pressing it between and shaping the blanks on absorbent molds for the form, a stationary permeable matrix, and subsequent jiggering to final finish and polish. a moveable absorbent and/or permeable mold The objects are to reduce manual labor reuntil the brim is extended, the surface contoured quired; insure continuity of production; reduce and the thickness established to substantially 00- 10 clay wastage and the percentage of defective incide with that of the finished ware; repelling Ware; improve the quality and quantity of the the shaped ware from the matrix and form by Ware produced and generally reduce production forcing air under pressure through the permeable costs. walls of the matrix and form, and suction to the The present invention contemplates appara under side of the mold, substantialy at the in- 15 tus operable for supplying at convenient, and if stant of recession of mold from matrix and form; desired, irregular intervals, semi-conditioned transferring the mold and shaped ware to a clay masses to a reserve hopper; progressing it finishing station; rotating the shaped ware surinto and through conditioning, column forming face secured to the mold against a profile tool and progressing apparatus; measuring and sevto finally finish and polish the surface and brim, 20

ering predetermined length slugs therefrom, thereafter drying the ware while still on the each containing a multiple of charges, to promold.

vide a reserve supply; determining the slug In the drawings:

length, instant of and frequency of slug produc- Figure 1 is a sectional elevation on line 1-1,

tion by the volume of clay withdrawn in the pro Fig. 2, showing the main parts of an apparatus duction of a multiple of charges; welding the embodying my invention;

slug ends together and smoothing the weld; suc- F g- 2 is p an ew f e p a cessively severing portions from the slug and Fig. 3 is a detail of a retarder for the feeder controlling the volume of each portion by the belt of the-apparatus;

volume withdrawn in preceding charge forming Fig. 4 is a section on line IV--IV, Fig. 2; and 30 operations; depositing the portions in a stabiliz- Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of ingreserve well; applying a substantialpressure Fig. 1. i to the clay in the well to amalgamate it with In Figs. 1, 4 and 5, I show a frame A with cross the residue therein and progress it through an members B provided with a series of accurately orifice into a charge measuring chamber; measspaced holes Bl for dowls by whichare secured 35 uring and forming a charge; limiting the volume to and positioned on the frame a conditioning progressed by the capacity of the chamber; esand extruding apparatus C, a slug measuring tablishing said capacity by positioning one wall and segregating apparatus D, a clay supply reof said chamber in predetermined position; serve or stabilizing and compacting device E,

maintaining a reserve supply in said well; con- 3. charge measuring apparatus F, a blank form- 40 trolling the supply of clay thereto by the volume ing apparatus G, a blank applying and conformof the reserve supply remaining in the well and ing apparatus H, a treating apparatus J, and a by the volume of the preceding charge withcharge segregating, forming and conveying turdrawn; severing the charge at a predetermined ret K, these several apparatus constituting one point from its source of supply; transferring the line of' a contemplated multiple of parallel lines 45 charge to a forming station; preshaping the of production. Frame A also houses mold concharge on all surfaces into a blank of predeveying apparatus L and mold and former optermined configuration and size closely approachcrating apparatus M common to all lines of proing or bearing a distinct relation to the finished duction.

ware, including reducing the cross-sectional Molds l positioned in seatsla on members 50 thickness of the charge or blank; determining lb of trays 2 are intermittently progressed along the water content of each surface of the blank; track 2a by pawl 3 on lever 4 oscillated by cam 5 holding the blank against a shaped permeable on drive shaft 6, to a position adjacent the apform by suction through the form while transparatus H and M and thereafter to a synchroferrin n pply g the blank to the surface nized. automatic profiling apparatus (not shown). 55

Mold I is lifted from seat Ia against a matrix I2 by a chuck I adjustably secured to a crosshead 8, by means of a toggle joint 9, 9a, operated through a link ID by a cam H. Semi-conditioned clay is fed into a hopper I3 and finally conditioned in the screw extruder C, then progressed through a die I4 as a column by means of an electric motor I5 controlled by relay I6, contacts I'I, I8 and anchor switch.I9, said mo- 10 tor driving the screw of the extruder. When a belt 20 advances the column 2I a predetermined distance, cam 22 rotating in unison with the belt 20 lifts the anchor I9 and operates a cutter 23 to part and release a slug of predetermined length from the tail 24 of the column in the die I4 and permits it to gravitate on rollers 25 towards, collide with and weld to the preceding slug 21 (Fig. 5), the weld being smoothed when drawn between rollers 21a; further progression of belt 20 causes a pin 26 on cam 22 to shift the anchor I9 to right against the contact I8 to start the motor I5 and extrude a fresh column of clay over rollers until the end contacts with and shifts anchor I9 to left against adjustable contact I! to stop motor I5 and extruder C.

Thus clay slugs are extruded, severed and conveyed by measuring device D at the same rate as used by the reserve or stabilizing device E. The conditioning device C, slug forming device D, and stabilizing device E,t0gether, provide a reserve clay supply to insure uninterrupted operation. To control the intensity of impact between slugs 2! and 21, rollers 25 are connected with retarders, for example fluid pumps, Fig. 3, having the circulation restricted by a valve 28.

A crosshead 29 is reciprocated vertically on guides 30 by cam II through link I0, crank 9a and link 9b and through bolts am carries a plate 3| which houses a bushing 32 in threaded engagement therewith. A housing 33 fixed to the frame A has a rectangular reserve well 34 in which a ram 35 is reciprocated by the plate 3I through a stem 36, the adjustable bushing 32, nuts 31, and a spring 38. A bracket 39 secured to stem 36 loosely embraces and reciprocates a rack bar M which engages a gear 42 driving a roller 43 through internal ratchet and pawl (not shown) to progress the belt 23 and slug 2! intermittently to left only. A spring 47 and nuts 50 threaded on the bar 4I provide a resilient and adjustable stroke of the same.

As ram 35 descends it shears 01f protruding end of slug 21, and progresses the clay through a port 44 into a circular chamber 45 of the disk shaped turret K having teeth 46 for its rotation, until the chamber 45 is filled, then spring 38 yields, thus arresting descent of the ram 35 and rack 4I; meantime, a pawl 49 on a stern 4641 has locked the gear 42 to temporarily prevent advance of slug 21. Upon elevation of crosshead 29, the spring 41 is compressed leaving the rack 4I stationary until at the end of the elevation of the bracket 39 it lifts the stem with the pawl 40. The spring 41 then advances slug 21 to the extent to which the ram 35 has descended, so that as less clay remains in the well, more clay is deposited therein, and vice-versa. As ram 35 descends, a former 48 is elevated into the chamber 45 through a lever 49 and pitman 50 actuated from the plate 3|, a predetermined distance adjustable while in operation through a screw sim ilar to screw 5!, Fig. 4. The former determines the diameter, lower contour and bulk of the charge, and it enables the chambers 48 in the 75 turret to be filled to less than capacity by any desired extent. After retraction of the former 48, a one-way rack pawl 52 operated by the lever 4 and pivoted to crossbar 53, engages the teeth 46 of turret K to turn it counter-clockwise by one division to shear the charge from the mass by the action of a grid 44a, and carry it to preforming position G. A lock 54 operated by the pawl 52 at the termination of its travel locates and holds the turret 46 stationary, while an upper former 55, Fig. 4, and a lower former 56, advance into the chamber 45 to contour both surfaces of the blank 51, the degree of pressure applied being adjustable through nuts 58 and spring 59 on a pitman 59a. Replaceable bushings 51a facilitate substitution of various brim shape and diameter blank formation, and exchangeable liners 5Ib between the housing and its removable base 33a facilitate substitution of various length bushings, whereby the effective depth of the chamber may be varied.

Blank 51 is next brought under a final former 60 adapted to enter the chamber 45 when it reaches position H where the blank is transferred, conformed and secured to the surface of the mold I through matrix I2 and the former 69. Former 60 is reciprocated by the crosshead 29 through a hollow stem 60a which extends through a bushing 60b and is threaded and grooved for applying a nut 600 above, and a pressure relief collar 60d below the bushing 60b. Collar 66d houses a series of adjustable spring pressed balls 60c which seat in the groove of stem 60a. When excess pressure is applied they release, thus controlling maximum pressure application and also avoiding breakage.- Bushing 60!) serves to adjust the lowermost extent of travel of former 60 thereby determining the thickness of the central portion of the formed ware and the threaded steam of the chuck I determines the thickness of the brim portion of the formed ware, by enabling the chuck to be vertically adjusted in the crosshead 8 which has an internally threaded opening receiving said stem. At position J, chamber 45 may be cleaned and treated to prepare it for a subsequent charge. Thereafter mold I is transferred to final finishing and polishing apparatus. The faces of the blank are preferably contoured convex to facilitate spreading and to insure against entrapping air betwen the clay and the mold, avoid folds, etc.

The clay contacting faces of matrix I2, ram 35, formers 48, 60, 55 and 56 are of permeable material and their opposite faces are chambered and in communication with a source of sub and super atmospheric pressure, controlled by adjustable cam operated valves not shown, to controlclay adhesion to and repulsion from these surfaces. During transfer of the blank from chamber 45 to mold I, sub-atmospheric pressure may be admitted through the face of former 60 to attract and hold the blank thereto, thus insuring proper blank placement. Also, by applying sub or super atmospheric pressure of predetermined pressure, the instant and duration of application to the clay through the permeable faces of formers 48, 55, 56 and 60, during and/or following the forming operation, the water content of each face of the blank may be predetermined prior to application to the mold.

The formers are arranged to extract moisture from the clay by squeezing, or by the combined action of squeezing and suction, the extracted water entering the pores of the permeable clay contacting surface of the formers. This may ware, a charge measuring and segregating ap-' occur incident to any stage in the processing where the clay is'operated upon by permeable formers with or without suction connections. By extracting water from the clay charge, the tendency toward plastic deformation is reduced, particularly during transfer from one position to another when suspended by its brim. Obviously, the extraction of water will shorten the subsequent drying time required.

The blank brim is compacted against and defined and supported by the chamber wall to facilitate transportation and concentric application to the mold without distortion, thus insuring uniform radial spread and final concentric regular outlined brim in the formed ware, the large diameter and thin regular section also contributing towards said result. I thus dispense in the subsequent jiggering operation, with trimming off and discarding the irregular excess brim resulting from applying irregular compact unformed charges, unguided, direct to the mold.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details of construction herein set forth, by way of illustration; it is apparent that many changes and variations may be made therein, by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention, or exceeding the scope 1 of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:--

1. In apparatus for manufacturing pottery ware, a ware-forming mold, a chamber remote from the mold, means for filling said chamber with conditioned clay from a supply thereof, means for segregating themass in the chamber from the supply, each mass comprising a mold charge, and means for varying the position of one wall of the chamber to thereby measure the quantity of clay comprised in each charge.

2. In apparatus for manufacturing pottery ware, a chamber, means for supplying conditioned clay to said chamber, a bottom former remote from the mold on which the ware is formed, said former being adapted to recipro cate in said chamber, means for determining the limit of. reciprocation of said former to thereby vary the depth of the clay mass in the chamber, and means for segregating the mass from its supply.

3,. In apparatus for manufacturing pottery ware, a reserve well, means for progressing a mass of conditioned clay to a point adjacent said well, means for severing portions from the end of the mass and compacting the portions into said well, means for segregating mold charges from the mass in said well, and means for maintaining the volume of input to said well equal to the volume of output.

4. In apparatus for manufacturing pottery ware, a well, means for conditioning and extruding clay in the form of a column, a conveyor adapted to convey the column to a point adjacent said well, means for segregating slugs from the end of the column as it is progressed towards said well, means for segregating portions from the slug and compacting them into said well, means for segregating charges from the mass in the well, and means for regulating the travel of the conveyor to thereby control the supply of clay to the well in proportion to the rate of charge segregation and withdrawal of clay from the well.

5. In apparatus for manufacturing pottery paratus including means for extruding clay in the form of a column, means for severing portions from the column to form clay slugs, a reserve well of sufiicient capacity to hold an amount of clay for several charges, means for feeding the slugs to the well, and means for automatically controlling the rate of extrusion in proportion to the quantity of clay supplied to the said well.

6. In apparatus for manufacturing pottery ware, a turret provided with a plurality of charge receiving chambers, means for intermittently rotating the turret to bring said chambers successively into charge-receiving position, means for supplying clay to each chamber as it is brought into such position, a bottom adapted to reciprocate in the chamber to measure the charge, means for adjusting the reciprocation of said bottom to determine the bulk 5f the charge, and means operable by rotation of the turret to segregate the charge.

'7. In apparatus of the class specified, a chargereceiving and measuring chamber independent of the mold on which the ware is formed, means for progressing clay into said chamber, said chamber being provided with a movable wall which is adjustable to determine the capacity of the chamber and thereby determine the bulk of clay comprised in a charge.

8. Apparatus for the manufacture of pottery ware on molds comprising a disk turret provided with a series of angularly spaced chambers extending through the same, means for charging said chambers with clay, a series of preformingdevices operative on the clay charges in the chambers, removable bushings in the chambers for determining the brim shape of the preformed charges, and means for rotating said turrets stepwise to bring said chambers into cooperation with the preforming devices.

9. Apparatus according to claim 10, in which the preforming devices comprise formers operative to contour both the top and bottom surfaces of the charge before its application to the mold.

10. Apparatus for the manufacture of pottery ware comprising a housing, a disk turret r0- tatably mounted in the housing and provided with a series of angularly spaced chambers extending through the same, a base between which and the housing the turret is supported, a series of preforming devices in the housing and base operative on the clay charges in the chambers, removable bushings in the chambers for determining the brim shape of the preformed charges, and removable liners between the housing and the base for varying the efiective depth of the chambers.

11. Apparatus for the manufacture of pottery ware comprising a rotary disk turret provided with a series of angularly spaced chambers extending through the same, and means for charging said chambers with clay to less than their capacity by any desired extent.

12. Apparatus for the manufacture of pottery ware comprising a rotary disk turret provided with a series of angularly spaced chambers extending through the same, means for charging the chambers to less than their capacity with measured amounts of clay, and a plurality of formers operative successively on the measured clay charges in said chambers to preform them into blanks approximating in size and thickness to the finished ware.

13. Apparatus for the manufacture of pottery ware comprising means for supporting a jiggering mold, a movable charge measuring and preforming chamber, means for bringing said chamber and mold into a predetermined positional relationship. and means for transferring the preformed charge from the chamber and applying and securing it to the mold while said relationship subsists.

14. Apparatus for the manufacture of pottery ware comprising means for supporting a jiggering mold, a chambered disk movable relatively to the mold, means for'preforming in the cham bers of said disk a clay blank approximating the finished ware in shape and thickness, means for bringing the chamber and mold into mutual axial alignment with the blank suspended by its rim from the chamber wall, means for transferring the thus supended blank from the chamber to the mold while maintaining accurate registry between chamber, blank and mold, and if desired also means for applying the preshaped blank under pressure to the mold surface.

15. Apparatus for the manufacture of pottery ware comprising continuously operating ware fabricating means fed by a reserve length of clay in slug form, intermittently operating means for replenishing the reserve length, and automatic means responsive to a predetermined shortening of the reserve length to re-start the replenishing means.

16. Apparatus for the manufacture of pottery ware comprising a member having a plurality of spaced chambers and means for charging said chambers with clay to less than the capacity thereof to any desired extent.

1?. Apparatus for the manufacture of pottery ware comprising a disk turret provided with a series of angularly spaced chambers extending through the same, means for variably charging said chambers with clay, a series of preforming devices operative on the clay charges in the chambers, removable bushings in the chambers for determining the brim shape of the preformed charges, and means for rotating said turrets stepwise to bring said chambers into cooperation with the preforming devices.

18. Apparatus for the manufacture of pottery ware comprising a disk turret provided with a series of angularly spaced chambers extending through the same, means for charging said chambers with clay, a series of forming devices operative on the clay charges in the chambers, means for rotating said turrets stepwise to bring said chambers into cooperation with the forming devices, and means actuated by the turret rotating means at the end of each step to lock the turret in its next operative position,

19. Apparatus according to claim 18 comprising also means for feeding the chambers from an intermittently replenished length of clay in slug form.

20. Apparatus for the manufacture of pottery ware comprising means forming a charge forming chamber, means forming a clay reserve well, means for feeding said well with clay in slug form, a passage between the reserve well and the charge forming chamber, and a ram operative in said well to sever clay from the slug and force a quantity of clay from the same into the chamber.

21. Apparatus according to claim 20, in which the slug feed means comprises a belt, means fpr intermittently operating said belt to advance 75 a portion of the slug into the well into a position to be severed by the ram and compacted with the clay remaining in the well.

22. Apparatus for the manufacture oi pottery ware comprising ware fabricating means fed by a reserve length of clay in slug form, operating means operable intermittently and independently of the ware fabricating means for preparing slugs, means for welding said slugs onto the rear end of the reserve length, and automatic means responsive to a predetermined shortening of the reserve length to re-start the slug preparing means.

23. Apparatus for the manufacture of pottery ware comprising a preshaping device operating in repeated cycles, means supporting a reserve length of clay in slug form for feeding the preshaping device, a device for extruding a column of clay, means for joining severed slugs to the reserve length, a drive for the extrusion device and severing means, and control means responsive to predetermined shortening of the reserve length to intermittently operate the said drive.

24. Apparatus for the manufacture of pottery ware comprising means forming a variable capacity chamber from which clay is intermittently removed, means supporting a reserve length of clay in slug form for feeding said chamber in an amount equal to that removed, means for extruding a column of clay, means for severing slugs from said column, means for joining the ends of said slugs, a drive for said extrusion device, and control means responsive to predetermined shortening of the reserve length to operate said drive.

25. Apparatus for the manufacture of pottery ware which comprises means forming a chamber adapted to confine amass of clay material containing a multiple of mold charges, means for supplying said chamber with clay material comprising an extruder, a drive for said extruder whereby clay is extruded as a column, means for supporting said column, means for severing slugs from said column, means for advancing slugs to said chamber, and control means operative in response to a. predetermined advance of a slug to operate said drive, and a control for said severing means operative when said drive is rendered inoperative.

26. In combination, a clay slug feeding device and means forming a chamber for the reception of a. portion of the slug, means retractable from the path of the slug feed for'severing said portion, control means for advancing said slug farther into said chamber when said means is retracted, means for receiving the severed portion of said clay in said chamber in the form of a mold charge, means for preshaping said charge into blank form, a mold and instrumentalities for transferring, manipulating and applying said blank to and in or on said mold.

27. Apparatus for the manufacture of pottery ware which comprises, in combination, a plurality of molds, means for preshaping clay bodies prior to placement in or on said molds, means enabling the application of said clay bodies concentrically to said molds, and means for expanding said preshaped clay bodies on and applying said bodies to said molds.

28. Apparatus for the manufacture of pottery ware which comprises, in combination, a plurality of molds, means for preshaping clay bodies before placement in or on said molds, and means for applying the clay to, expanding the clay on and contouring the preshaped clay to said molds.

29. Apparatus for the manufacture of potteryware which comprises, in combination; a plurality of molds, means for' preshaping clay bodies before placement in or on said molds, means for applying, expanding and contouring the preshaped clay on or to said molds, and means for releasing said clay from said applying means.

30. Apparatus for the manufacture of potteryware which comprises, in combination, a plurality of molds, means for preshaping clay bodies prior to placement in or on said molds, means for releasing said bodies from said preshaping means, means for automatically applying said preshaped bodies to said molds and finally forming the same thereon, and means for releasing said clay bodies from said applying means.

31. Apparatus for the manufacture of potteryware which comprises, in combination, a plurality of supports on which clay bodies are finally formed and dried, means for forming clay charges, means for preshaping said charges, and means for applying said preshaped charges to said supports and expanding the same thereon to final ware diameter.

32. Apparatus for manufacturing potteryware which comprises, in combination, a conveyor for molds for advancing the same toward a charging point, means for forming clay charges, means for pressing said charges to preshape the same prior to placement in or on said molds, means for applying said preshaped charges on said molds and expanding the same, and means for releasing said preshaped clay bodies from said applying means.

33. Apparatus for manufacturing potteryware which comprises, incombination, a conveyor for molds for advancing the same toward and centering the same at a charging point, means for forming clay charges, means for pressing said charges to preshape the same prior to placement 40 in or on said molds, means for applying said pre- 50 applying preshaped clay charges to said molds,

means for transferring said charges from said preshaping means to said applying means and means for releasing said charges from said applying means.

35. Apparatus for the manufacture of potteryware which comprises, in combination, a plurality of molds, means for preshaping clay bodies, means for applying and expanding said preshaped clay bodies on or to the ware-forming surface of the molds, means for locating said molds with relation to said applying means whereby said clay bodies will be applied centrally of the wareforming surface thereof, means for limiting the expansion of the clay body on the ware-forming surface of the mold, and means for releasing the clay from the applying means.

36. Apparatus for the manufacture of potteryware which comprises, in combination, a plurality of molds, means for moving said molds toward a charging point, means for preshaping clay bodies, means for applying preshaped clay bodies to said molds and for expanding the same thereon, and

means associated with said applying.means for forming clay charges, means for preshaping clay bodies from said charges, a plurality ofmolds, means for applying said preshaped clay bodies to said molds, means for locating said molds concentrically with relation to said applying means, said applyingmeans being of such a nature that the preshaped clay bodies are expanded incident to application to the mold, the final brim diameter determined and the surfaces contoured and finished, and means for releasing said applying means from said clay.

39. Apparatus for manufacturing potteryware which comprises, in combination, a charge-form- 'ing apparatus adapted to feed and segregate clay bodies of predetermined bulk, means for preshaping said clay bodies, a plurality of molds, a conveyor for molds, means for advancing said molds in consecutive order to a charging point, means for applying preshaped clay bodies to said molds, whereby said clay is expanded to final form, size, shape and thickness, and means for releasing said clay from said applying means.

' WILLIAM J. MILLER. 

